The CORE returns to Little Jumbo! Come enjoy piquant cocktails and titillating tunes from Asheville's most prodigious jazz quintet.
Justin Ray: Trumpet Jacob Rodriguez: Saxophone Bill Bares: Piano Zack Page: Bass Evan Martin: Drums
𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬 is a two-man wrecking crew with influences ranging from modern jazz to grunge to instrumental hip hop & experimental music. Hybrid 7-string guitarist/loop freak Eli Kahn creates sonic layer cakes with the aid of his effects arsenal atop drummer Joe Enright's ever-expansive jazz beat backdrops to create a unique sound that is all their own. The duo has built a following with their dynamic live performances & their newest album "Music For Cats" is available to stream everywhere.
Cellist 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 is a mix of mastery and maverick musicality; hip-hop influenced, rhythmically layered, melodically robust. Avant garde, folk-soul music, a key to navigate space, time, and change, gracefully, for those who use it. Driven by diversity, drawn to the cello's tone, cosmic strings calling souls home. His newest single, "Roses", was added to the New York Times "7 Songs You Should Know" playlist - he will be opening the show with some ambient/instrumental soundscapes & also sitting in on some tunes with After Ours.
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.
Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.
Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion
Brian Felix is widely recognized as an accomplished and versatile jazz keyboardist. He was co-leader of OM Trio, an acclaimed San Francisco-based jazz-rock group that toured internationally between 1999-2004. Brian is active today as a performer and recording artist with his Brian Felix Organ Quartet and other prominent groups in Western North Carolina.
Felix has shared the stage with well-known musicians such as Joshua Redman, Charlie Hunter, Umphrey’s McGee, Sara Caswell, Billy Hart, Joe Russo, Kelly Sill, Dave Fiuczynski, and many others. Felix is a Professor of Music at UNC Asheville, where he teaches classes on jazz theory and improvisation, music business, jazz ensembles, keyboard skills, the Beatles, and the Grateful Dead.
The Brian Felix Organ Quartet plays Felix’s original book of jazz, funk, Latin, and blues-influenced tunes. The group takes cues from the classic organ combos of Jimmy Smith and Larry Young, as well as the modern groups of Larry Goldings, Sam Yahel, Joey DeFrancesco, and Medeski, Martin & Wood.
Brian Felix: Organ
Jacob Rodriguez: Saxophone
Tim Fischer: Guitar
Evan Martin: Drums
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.
Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.
Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion
When the originators of the Asheville Original Music series—bassist Mike Holstein and drummer Justin Watt—teamed up with pianist Dr. William Bares (Harvard ethnomusicology Ph.D and professor of music at UNC Asheville) a decade ago to create a working jazz piano trio, the result was a new musical concept that has blurred the lines between art and entertainment, structure and spontaneity. The group has has evolved a sound that combines elements of global music, Americana and jazz in ways that are recognizably artistic and quintessentially Ashevillian.
Billl Bares: Piano
Mike Holstein: Bass
Justin Watt: Drums
Denise Kiernan is an author, journalist, producer, and host of “CRAFT: Authors in Conversation.” Her new young reader’s book, We Gather Together: Stories of Thanksgiving from then to now, arrived September 2023, and is a companion title to the popular adult nonfiction book, We Gather Together, and children’s picture book, Giving Thanks. Her book The Last Castle was an instant New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback and was also a Wall Street Journal bestseller. She is also the author of The Girls of Atomic City, which is a New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and NPR bestseller and has been published in multiple languages. She lives in North Carolina.
Terry Roberts is the author of five celebrated novels: A Short Time to Stay Here (winner of the Willie Morris Prize for Southern Fiction and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); That Bright Land (winner of the Thomas Wolfe Literary Award, the James Still Award for Writing About the Appalachian South and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival (Finalist for the 2019 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); My Mistress’ Eyes are Raven Black (Finalist for the 2022 Best Paperback Original Novel by the International Thriller Writers Organization); and most recently, The Sky Club, released in July of 2022. Roberts is the Director of the National Paideia Center and lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife, Lynn.
Free
Doors open at 4:00 PM. Conversation starts no later than 4:30 PM. No registration is required. Seating is first come, first served.
Little Jumbo is pleased to join local booksellers Malaprops for CRAFT: Authors in Conversation, a series conceived and hosted by New York Times bestselling author Denise Kiernan.
CRAFT’s concept is simple:
New York Times best-selling author Denise Kiernan will sit down with a writer in this speakeasy setting to discuss not only the writer’s latest publication, but also the craft of writing itself. For each featured author, the Little Jumbo staff will create a specialty cocktail—or mocktail—inspired by either the featured book or the author themselves.
WHO
Denise, sitting down with authors from all walks—literary fiction, nonfiction, graphic novelists, mystery authors, romance writers, TV and film folks…You get the idea.
WHAT
An hour of conversation about the guest author’s work, writing process and more, with time for audience questions. Conversations are followed by an author signing. Books provided by Malaprop’s.
WHERE
Little Jumbo, located at 241 Broadway Street in Asheville, a bar and then some, offering classic and classically-inspired craft cocktails, food, games, and more.
WHEN
The second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 4. Conversation starts no later than 4:30 PM.
Roll the Dice and Sip in Style. The second Wednesday of each month is Backgammon Night at Little Jumbo! Gather your friends, roll 'em bones, and let the games begin. Cheers to strategic moves and fantastic cocktails! Legal moves only! A ha!
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.
Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.
Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion
George Benson meets Jimmy Smith in Chicken Alley. Madness ensues. (Keep your pants on)
Jacob Rodriguez - Saxophone
Andy Page - Guitar
Alex Taub - Organ
Zack Page - Bass
Joe Enright - Drums
If you've been to one of DJ Lil Meow Meow's monthly dance parties at Little Jumbo, you know they are not to be missed! 10pm-1am and always a good time. Follow @djlilmeowmeow for a theme drop!
$5 Cover
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.
Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.
Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion
The Xtet is the flagship ensemble of the Jazz and Contemporary Music program at UNCA. Under the direction of Justin Ray (The Core), this group has spent the past year studying the great composers in jazz history as means of inspiring their own original works. This performance/live recording is the culmination of the year of study and work, and will feature all new pieces composed by members of the ensemble.
Composer and Drummer Alan Hall has performed and/or recorded with international jazz artists Lee Konitz, Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Ed Simon, Geoffrey Keezer, Kenny Washington, Rebecca Parris, and Joyce Cooling. He has taught at Berklee College of Music, California Jazz Conservatory, Monterrey Jazz Festival Middle School and High School Summer Camp, JazzCamp West, Cal State East Bay, and Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Camp
Seeking a broader palette for his compositions, has added several new musicians to his quintet, Asheville Jazz Collective. The new line-up will definitely bump up the eclectic factor! We hope you can come along for the ride.
Alan Hall: Drums
Bill Bares: Piano
Dylan Hannan: Reeds
Ariana Varvaro: Oboe
Allen Watsky: Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Josef Butts: Bass
Little Jumbo is pleased to welcome Hillai Govreen in conjunction with South Arts.
Hillai Govreen is a clarinetist, saxophonist and composer based in New York. The Hillai Govreen Quartet is a dynamic NYC-based band born from the collaboration of Hillai and bassist Ben Meigners just two years ago. Their innovative compositions and repertoire drawn from a diverse array of influences, blending various musical styles to create a unique sound that transcends time and genre boundaries, echoing the essence of past, present, and future.
Hillai has played and collaborated with international musicians including George Cables, Arturo O’farill, Anat Cohen, George Colligan, Steve Cardenas, Joseph Pepe Danze, Gino Sitson and Harold Rubin. She has toured in Europe, Israel and the U.S.
Hillai Govreen: Reeds
Yago Vazquez: Piano
Ben Meigners: Bass
Willie Bowman: Drums
If you've been to one of DJ Lil Meow Meow's monthly dance parties at Little Jumbo, you know they are not to be missed! 10pm-1am and always a good time. Follow @djlilmeowmeow for a theme drop!
$5 Cover
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.
Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.
Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion
This installment of the ensemble will feature the incredible saxophone stylings of Markus Howell. A native of South Florida, and a graduate of Michigan State, Markus had circled the world multiple times while performing and recording with the likes of Christian McBride, Michael Bublé, and Wycliffe Gordon. Fresh off his Grammy win with The Count Basie Orchestra, Markus will bring some of his original music to Little Jumbo in anticipation of his upcoming release on Posi-Tone Records. He will join Jacob, Bill, Zack, and Evan as they explore some more originals by Jacob, as well as a collection of rare jazz compositions and instrumental interpretations of songs by Phoebe Bridgers, Radiohead, Emily King, and others in this two-saxophone lineup. Don’t miss out!
Markus Howell - Alto Saxophone
Jacob Rodriguez - Tenor Saxophone
Bill Bares - Keyboard
Zack Page - Bass
Evan Martin - Drums
Roll the Dice and Sip in Style. The second Wednesday of each month is Backgammon Night at Little Jumbo! Gather your friends, roll 'em bones, and let the games begin. Cheers to strategic moves and fantastic cocktails! Legal moves only! A ha!
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
With a musical career spanning 30 years, Composer, producer, and guitarist Jay Sanders thrives on actualizing creative spaces for improvisational and exploratory music.
Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will now resides in Asheville.
Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years. A prodigious composer, Alan also leads the Asheville Jazz Collective, a staple of Little Jumbo's Monday jazz series.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy live music in Asheville, NC, and you don't know the singularity known as Zack Page, you've clearly been living under a rock. One of the area's most sought after musicians, Zack brings his zeal for the absurd to each thunderous emanation.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Alan Hall: Drums and Percussion
The CORE returns to Little Jumbo! Come enjoy piquant cocktails and titillating tunes from Asheville's most prodigious jazz quintet.
Justin Ray: Trumpet
Jacob Rodriguez: Saxophone
Bill Bares: Piano
Zack Page: Bass
Evan Martin: Drums
Every Tuesday, savor experimental Musica Universalis focused primarily on the group's original writing and sonic explorations. These aural wayfarers fear no boundary.
Jay Sanders: Guitar and Effects
Will Boyd: Reeds
Zack Page: Bass and Effects
Evan Martin: Drums and Percussion
A multi-instrumentalist specializing in the performance and education of contemporary improvisational music, Steve Alford spent multiple years on the road across the United States and Europe. He settled in Chicago in the late ’90s and began pursuing an in-depth study of harmony clarinets, appearing regularly on both saxophone and bass clarinet in the straight-ahead jazz, modern improvised music, and experimental indie-rock scenes across the Midwest.
Relocating to Asheville, North Carolina, after a decade in Illinois, Alford was serving as an adjunct professor of jazz and contemporary music at the University of North Carolina-Asheville while he completed his master’s degree in jazz at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Concurrently he developed a new contemporary music pedagogy focusing on multilateral ear training, multi-instrumental rhythm section methods class, "mind's ear" sonic exploration and melodic immersion. During a brief return to the northern Midwest United States, he took over as coordinator for jazz and contemporary improvisation studies at the University of Minnesota Morris, bringing his curriculum of modern multi-genre improvisation study grounded in traditional jazz roots to that university system.
During the past decade, he has composed, produced and recorded his most adventurous music to date including his acclaimed 11-piece modern big band, the multi-genre improvisation-based collective known as Rational Discourse; the E.Normus Trio, an alto clarinet, N/S Stick and drums trio within the punk-jazz genre; his quintet METAL, composed of two trash can drum systems, two double bassists, and Alford on electrified contra-alto clarinet and electrified English horn; and his new standards jazz trio and quartets, each reimagining small group jazz through an open and free approach to harmony while remaining grounded in tradition.
Steve Alford: Saxophone
Bill Bares: Piano
Quinn Sternberg: Bass
Alan Hall: Drums
Someone once coined the term “Punk Jazz” to describe Meschiya Lake’s style. From eating glass on the sideshow circuit to fronting the Danish National Symphony, Ms. Lake has led bands and danced across stages the world over. Her recording career has seen her alongside the likes of Mr Tom Waits and netted her the Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the 2019 Danish Grammy’s, among multiple other music awards. A country music child star, and based out of New Orleans for two decades, she blends her musical roots with her extensive knowledge of traditional jazz. At once contagiously danceable, and emotionally moving, Meschiya Lake swings and croons her way throughout a diverse array of powerful performances.